Kamil Omar Kuraszkiewicz
West Saqqara: The Owner of Chapel
15 and his Family
Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean 15, 123-125
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WEST SAQQARA
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THE OWNER OF CHAPEL 15
AND HIS FAMILY
Kamil Omar Kuraszkiewicz
1) Cf. report by K. Myœliwiec in the present volume.
2) H. Ranke, Die ägyptischen Personnennamen I (Glückstadt 1935) (= Ranke, PN).
3) Cf. E. Edel, Altägyptische Grammatik I (Rome 1955), 158-159, § 366; Ranke, PN I, 171-172, PN II, 231. 4) Not listed by Ranke. On abbreviated name forms, see: Ranke, PN II, 129-130, 232.
5) D. Jones, Index of Ancient Egyptian Titles, Epithets and Phrases of the Old Kingdom (Oxford 2000) (= Jones, Index), vol. I, 53, no. 263.
6) Jones, Index I, 221, no. 826. 7) Jones, Index I, 234, no. 864. 8) Jones, Index I, 289-290, no. 1054. 9) Jones, Index I, 327-328, no. 1206. 10) Jones, Index II, 527, no. 1966. 11) Jones, Index II, 587-588, no. 2150. 12) Jones, Index II, 606-607, no. 2222.
13) On various types of the Hrj sStA office and comprehensive list of its holders, see: K. Rydström, “@ry sStA, ‘In Charge of Secrets’. The 3000 year evolution of a title”, DE 28 (1994), 53-94; Jones, Index II, 609, no. 2233.
14) Jones, Index II, 620, no. 2275. This was the most important and highest title of the Hrj sStA group (cf. Rydström, op. cit., 65-68); probably, the holders of this title assisted the king in preparations for divine rituals (cf. H.G. Fischer, Dendera in the Third Millennium B.C. (New York 1968), 137-138).
15) Jones, Index II, 622, no. 2281.
In the decoration of Chapel 151) both the
owner and members of his family are represented and the inscriptions that accompany them contain the names and titles of the depicted persons. The name of the tomb owner, Ny-ankh-Nefertem (Nj-anx-Nfr-tmw), is not attested in the Memphite necropolis and it fails to be listed by Ranke,2) but it follows the well
attested pattern Nj-anx-<god's name> and means “Live belongs to Nefertem”.3) His
second name, Temi (&mj)4) is evidently a
short form of the full name, which is confirmed by its graphy using the sign U15 (according to Gardiner's list).
The following titles of Ny-ankh-Nefertem are attested in his tomb chapel: 1. jmj-rA jaw-rA nswt – overseer of the
king's repast;5)
2. jmj-rA jswt Spswt Pr-aA – overseer of the noble places of the Great House;6)
3. jmj-rA sSr – overseer of linen;7)
4. jmj-xt Hmw-nTr Nfr-swt-Wnjs – under-supervisor of the god's servants of the pyramid of Wenis;8)
5. jrj jxt nswt – keeper of the king’s property;9)
6. Hm-nTr Nfr-jswt-Wnjs – god’s servant of the pyramid of Wenis;10)
7. Hm-nTr +d-jswt-&tj – god’s servant of the pyramid of Teti;11)
8. Hrj-pr Pr-aA – majordomo of the Great House;12)
9. Hrj sStA – privy to secrets;13)
10.Hrj sStA nj Pr- _wAt – privy to secrets of the House of the Morning;14)
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12.Hrj sStA nj nswt m jst.f nb(t) – privy to secrets of the king in his every cult-place;16)
13.Hrj sStA nj nTr.f ra nb – privy to secrets of his god every day;17)
14.smr watj – sole companion.18)
15.sHD pr nswt – inspector of the royal estate;19)
16.sHD Pr-aA – inspector of the Great House.20)
The titles are attested in several sequences in the decoration of the chapel. It is not possible to restore the full sequence of the tomb owner’s titles, nevertheless some observations can be made. The highest titles are those connected with the funerary temples. Then follow the titles smr watj and sHD pr-nswt which are higher than sHD Pr-aA and Hrj sStA n Pr-_wAt (although the hierarchy of the latter two could not be established). Lower than sHD Pr-aA is the sequence jmj-rA jaw-jmj-rA nswt jmj-jmj-rA jswt Spswt Pr-aA jmj-rA sSrw, as is the title Hrj-pr Pr-aA.
Beside the priestly functions at the funerary temples of Teti and Wenis,21) the
inscriptions of Ny-ankh-Nefertem present him as an official of fairly modest rank, although his functions probably kept him close to the king himself. Some of his titles indicate that he served at the royal court, and not in the administration.22) He
probably directed the personnel respon-sible for provisioning23)and was in charge
of the royal wardrobe.24) Several titles
containing the element Hrj sStA,25) as well
as the epithet jmAxw xr nswt26) seem to
confirm that he had direct contacts with the king.
FAMILY MEMBERS
As attested in the reliefs and inscriptions, the tomb owner was married to a woman named Seshseshet (ZSzSt),27) who held the
titles of keeper of the king's property (jrjt-jxt nswt)28) and priestess of Hathor, Lady
of the Sycamore (Hmt-nTr @wt-@r nbt Nht).29)
Four of Ny-ankh-Nefertem's sons are depicted in his tomb. The eldest, Meruka (Mrw-kA),30) was wab priest of the Great
House (wab Pr-aA)31) and inspector of the
royal estate (sHD pr-nswt). Two younger
16) This form of the title is attested in the neighboring tomb of Merefnebef; it may possibly be a variant (perhaps only in graphic terms) of the title Hrj sStA nj nswt m jswt.f nbwt, cf. Jones, Index II, 630-631, no. 2311.
17) The title is attested elsewhere without the addition ra nb: Jones, Index II, 632-633, no. 2316.
18) Jones, Index II, 892, no. 3268. This title, very important and exclusive in the previous period, became only a “ranking title” during the Sixth Dynasty, cf. W. Helck, Untersuchungen zu den Beamtentiteln des ägyptischen Alten Reiches (Glückstadt 1954), 25, 111, N. Strudwick, The Administration of Egypt in the Old Kingdom (London 1985), 224-225. 19) Jones, Index II, 926, no. 3406.
20) Jones, Index II, 924-925, no. 3401.
21) As evidenced by the Hm-nTr titles and possibly also by jrj jxt nswt, cf. M. Barta, “The Title 'Property Custodian of the King’ during the Old Kingdom Egypt”, ZÄS 126 (1999), 88.
22) I.e. Hrj-pr Pr-aA, sHD pr-nswt and sHD Pr-aA.
23) As evidenced by the title jmj-rA jaw-rA nswt, cf. A. M. Moussa, F. Junge, Two Tombs of Craftsmen (Mainz 1975), 34. 24) As jmj-rA sSr and possibly also Hrj sStA n Pr-_wAt (cf. Fischer, op. cit., 137-138).
25) Cf. Rydström, op. cit., 64-65, 81-85.
26) Cf. G. Lapp, Die Opferformel des Alten Reiches (Mainz 1986), 212, § 362. 27) Ranke, PN I, 298, no. 1.
28) Jones, Index I, 327-328, no. 1206. 29) Jones, Index II, 545, no. 2024.
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sons were Wedjawy (WDAwj),32)
under-supervisor of the Great House (jmj-xt Pr-aA),33) and Tjetji (*Tj),34) functionary and
attendant of the Great House (jmj st-a xntj-S Pr-aA).35) The fourth son, Mereri
(Mrrj),36)must have been the youngest as
there is no title attested for him. Moreover, he is depicted as a naked child.
Attested are also two daughters: Metjut (MTwt)37)and Khenut (#nwt);38)both held
the same title, that of keeper of the king’s property (jrjt-jxt nswt).
Apart from titles containing the names of the pyramids of Wenis and Teti, which give only a terminus post quem, there is no data for a more precise dating of the chapel.
32) Not listed by Ranke, possibly a variant of the name WDA.j: PN I, 88, no. 14. 33) Jones, Index I, 285, no. 1032.
